Pioneer Foundation, Inc. teams up with Ifugao State University and the Baang Farmers and Irrigators Association to boost productivity among farmers and encourage stronger youth engagement in agriculture.
During the project’s early stages, a group of Pioneer officers traveled to Barangay Baang, Hungduan, Ifugao to gain a deeper understanding of the farmers’ needs and daily realities. Driven by their advocacy for uplifting Filipino communities, the partnership grew into a meaningful initiative.
This project introduces advanced machinery to reduce manual labor and improve key farming processes. As part of the objective to address declining youth participation in agriculture, Pioneer is also providing scholarship support to Agriculture students from Ifugao State University.
IFSU’s University President Eva Marie Dugyon shared that this collaboration is deeply aligned with the university’s long-term goals of empowering the farming communities of Ifugao and IFSU students, like Azalea Ballatong, who is one of the project’s scholarship recipients.
“Receiving this scholarship is more than financial assistance. It is hope and an answered prayer. It lifts a heavy burden from my family’s shoulders, and it reminded me that there are organizations who believe in students who dream beyond their circumstances,” Ballatong said.
Beyond financial assistance, scholars are expected to take part in the initiative by assisting in equipment management and documenting farming processes, helping bridge traditional knowledge with more structured approaches.
“We are delighted that Pioneer extended their assistance through scholarship to our students and we are blessed that IFSU is a part of their noble program,” Dugyon shared.
Driven by Pioneer’s commitment to strengthening the economic resilience of Filipino communities, the project also aims to help safeguard the long-term preservation of the rice terraces. Pioneer Foundation, Inc., President, Atty. Betty Medialdea highlights that the initiative reflects the value of collaboration in supporting both livelihoods and heritage.
“As climate pressure continues to threaten these landscapes, the need for sustainable action becomes more urgent. In response, Pioneer Foundation has been working closely with its partners to develop community-led initiatives.” Medialdea said.
Through this partnership, Pioneer and its partners reaffirm their shared commitment to creating lasting, measurable impact through empowering communities, advancing sustainable agriculture, and helping preserve the cultural and environmental legacy of the Ifugao terraces for future generations.
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